The boat cuts its engine 50 miles northwest of Nassau. Silence settles over shallow water so clear you count individual grains of white sand 10 feet below. No structures break the horizon. No other vessels dot the turquoise flats stretching toward distant cays. This is White Cay in the Berry Islands, where emerald-green shallows stay uninhabited and crowds number fewer than 50 visitors most days.
Water temperature holds at 77°F in January. The cay itself measures roughly half a square mile of powder-white beaches and low scrub. Zero population lives here year-round. Charter boats from Nassau take 90 minutes to reach these banks, where draft limits of 6 feet keep larger tour vessels away.
A cay with no footprints
White Cay sits in the northern Berry Islands chain, which spans 32 miles total. Great Harbour Cay, the nearest settlement with 353 residents, lies 15 nautical miles south. No facilities exist on White Cay itself. No docks, no vendors, no beach chairs for rent.
Access requires private charter ($150-300 per person for half-day trips) or yacht anchorage in the shallow banks surrounding the cay. December through March brings calm trade winds and flat seas ideal for navigating waters that average 3-8 feet deep. The cut between White Cay and Devils Cay measures a quarter-mile wide with depths over 20 feet, making it the main approach for boats.
Most charters depart Nassau’s harbor at 8am. The ride northeast passes uninhabited cays and shallow banks where bonefish dart through turtle grass. By 9:30am, White Cay’s beaches appear on the horizon. For travelers seeking protected waters where crowds stay minimal, this remoteness delivers.
Water that shows everything below
Turquoise flats where you wade offshore
Step off the boat into knee-deep water 100 yards from shore. The sandy bottom stays visible through water clarity averaging 100 feet on calm days. Gradients shift from pale emerald near the beach to deeper turquoise where the banks drop toward blue channels.
Low tide exposes even more sand. You can walk 200 yards into the shallows and still stand comfortably. Rays glide past in slow motion. Small reef fish cluster near limestone outcrops at the bank edges. The water stays warm enough that most visitors skip wetsuits entirely.
Silence broken only by waves
Morning fog lifts around 7am, revealing the full scope of these flats. Golden light hits the white sand and turns the shallows luminous. No boat engines interrupt the quiet. Fewer than 5,000 visitors reach White Cay annually, compared to tens of thousands at more accessible Exumas destinations.
Bonefishing guides frequent these banks, where the elusive silver fish feed in shallow water. Half-day guided trips run $400-600 and require advance booking. The guides know which tides bring fish closest to shore. Most anglers practice catch-and-release in these pristine conditions.
What you do on an empty cay
Snorkeling shallow reefs
Coral formations edge the limestone banks where depth increases to 15-20 feet. Day boat charters include snorkel gear in their $150-300 rates. Visibility stays excellent December through March when water temperature ranges from 75-80°F.
The reefs host parrotfish, sergeant majors, and occasional nurse sharks resting in sandy patches. No crowds compete for viewing spots. You drift along the reef edge at your own pace, following schools of blue tangs through coral heads. Similar experiences at beaches where coral starts close to shore cost less in other Caribbean locations, but few match this level of solitude.
Beachcombing white sand
The beaches hold seashells undisturbed by crowds. Conch shells, sand dollars, and small coral fragments scatter along the tide line. No vendors sell souvenirs. No beach bars serve drinks. Charter boats typically pack coolers with lunch and water since no facilities exist on the cay.
Most visitors spread blankets on the sand and spend hours doing nothing but watching the water change colors as clouds pass overhead. The lack of development means no shade structures, so bring sun protection. The experience feels closer to a private atoll than a public beach.
The feeling that stays
Dawn brings the best light. The sun rises over the Atlantic side, turning the shallow banks gold before the turquoise takes over. By 8am, the heat builds but stays tolerable with the constant breeze. Afternoon thunderstorms sometimes roll through in summer months, but winter stays mostly clear.
Sunset paints the western sky in bands of orange and pink. Distant cays become dark silhouettes. The water goes still as wind drops. This quiet pulls visitors back. The Berry Islands maintain an authenticity that Nassau’s crowds and resort developments have long since lost. For context on remote coves that stayed empty for decades, White Cay follows a similar pattern of preservation through isolation.
Your questions about White Cay answered
How do you actually get there?
Fly into Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS). Round-trip flights from Miami average $200-400, from New York $300-600. Book a charter boat through Nassau operators for $150-300 per person (half-day, 4-6 passengers minimum). Alternatively, small planes fly to Great Harbour Cay Airport (15 minutes, $200-400 round-trip), then arrange boat transport. December through March offers the calmest seas and best visibility.
What about the swimming pigs?
White Cay itself has no swimming pigs. Nearby White Bay Cay and other Berry Islands locations host pig populations that swim to boats. Some charter operators include pig visits in their itineraries for an additional fee. White Cay stays pristine without tourist-fed animals, appealing to visitors seeking undisturbed nature rather than novelty attractions.
Is it really cheaper than the Exumas?
Day boat trips to White Cay run 40% less than equivalent Exumas tours. Exumas pig beach visits average $300-500 per person from Nassau, while Berry Islands charters stay in the $150-300 range. Accommodation costs differ too. Nearby Berry Islands guesthouses charge $150-250 per night versus $300-500 in the Exumas. The tradeoff: fewer amenities and longer travel times from Nassau. For travelers comparing Caribbean reef diving costs, White Cay offers significant savings.
The boat ride back to Nassau takes 90 minutes. Most charters depart White Cay by 2pm to avoid afternoon weather. Passengers sit quietly on the return, salt-crusted and sun-tired. The turquoise flats fade behind the stern. Someone always asks about coming back.